Connecticut Legal Ages

Legal ages in Connecticut

1. Age 2

   • Rear-facing car seat age requirement ends

     The law requires a rear-facing seat until age 2; after that a child may ride forward-facing.

     The child must also weigh at least 30 pounds.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-100a(d)(1)(A)

2. Age 5

   • Must be enrolled in school

     Connecticut requires children to attend school, or approved private or home instruction, from age 5.

     A parent may delay enrollment to 6 or 7 by signing an option form.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-184

3. Age 8

   • Car seat or booster age requirement ends

     The child car seat or booster requirement ends at age 8; after that a seat belt can be used.

     The child must also weigh at least 60 pounds.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-100a(d)(2)

4. Age 14

   • Can work limited hours in non-hazardous jobs (federal rule)

     Federal law lets 14- and 15-year-olds work in permitted non-hazardous jobs, outside school hours and within weekly hour limits.

     Limits: no more than 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week when school is out; only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day) (29 C.F.R. 570.35).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

5. Age 16

   • Can work (state minimum age)

     Connecticut bars workers under 16 from manufacturing, stores, restaurants and similar industries, with narrow exceptions.

     Exceptions: golf caddie or pro shop work from 14; store bagger, cashier or stock clerk, youth camp staff or lifeguard from 15 (mainly during school vacations); approved work-study programs from 14.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-23(a), (b)

   • Can work any non-hazardous job (federal rule)

     At 16, the general federal minimum working age applies: any job except those the Labor Department declares hazardous.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can get a learner's permit

     Connecticut issues a youth instruction permit at 16.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-36(c)(1)

   • Court emancipation (adult status) can be sought

     A minor can petition a court to be declared emancipated starting at age 16.

     A parent or guardian may also file the petition.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-150

6. Age 16 and 4 months

   • Can get a first license to drive alone

     A license is available at 16 after holding the youth permit at least 120 days with driver training (180 days otherwise).

     The earliest license is about 16 and 4 months (16 plus 120 days); without commercial or school driver training the wait is 180 days.

     Connecticut law · CT DMV teen driver's license page; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-36(c)

7. Age 17

   • Can vote in a primary if 18 by the general election

     Connecticut lets 17-year-olds vote in a primary if they will be 18 by the general election.

     They must have applied for admission as an elector.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-431(c)

8. Age 18

   • Can leave school (compulsory attendance ends)

     Connecticut's compulsory attendance requirement ends at the 18th birthday.

     A parent of a 17-year-old may withdraw the child into an adult education program at the district office.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-184

   • No work permit needed

     Connecticut employers must keep a school-issued certificate of age on file for each worker under 18.

     Does not apply to farm work, domestic service, street trades or newspaper delivery.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-23(d)

   • Can work in jobs federal law calls hazardous

     At 18, the federal bar on jobs the Labor Department declares hazardous for minors ends for non-farm work.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Teen license limits end (varies, see rule)

     Licensed drivers aged 16 and 17 may not drive from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. until their 18th birthday.

     Passenger limits end one year after the license is issued; the night driving ban lasts until 18.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-36g(a)(6); CT DMV teen restrictions

   • Can get a tattoo without a parent's consent

     From 18, a person can be tattooed without a parent's consent.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-266p(6)

   • Becomes a legal adult (age of majority)

     State law makes a person a legal adult, with full rights to contract and sue, at 18.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-1d

   • Can make a will

     A person of sound mind can make a valid will at 18.

     Connecticut law · C.G.S. 45a-250

   • Can marry without a parent's consent

     A person can marry without a parent's or court's consent at 18.

     Connecticut law · C.G.S. 46b-20a(2); P.A. 17-54 (eff. Oct 1, 2017); P.A. 23-44 (eff. July 1, 2023)

   • Adult adoptee can get the original birth certificate

     An adult adoptee can request a copy of the original birth certificate from age 18.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. 7-53

   • Can vote

     The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote at 18 in every federal, state and local election.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. amend. XXVI, § 1

   • Must register with Selective Service (men)

     Men 18 through 25 who are U.S. citizens or live in the United States must register with the Selective Service System.

     Men admitted on a nonimmigrant visa are exempt while they keep that status (50 U.S.C. 3802(a)).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 50 U.S.C. § 3802(a)

   • Can be called for state jury service

     A person can be called for state jury service from age 18.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-217(a)

   • Can be called for federal jury service

     Federal courts may call U.S. citizens 18 or older who have lived in the judicial district for a year.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(1)

   • Charged as an adult by default (juvenile court age ends)

     Connecticut tries people charged with a crime in adult court by default from age 18; younger defendants start in juvenile court.

     A juvenile court can transfer some younger defendants to adult court for serious offenses.

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-120(1)

   • Can buy a lottery ticket

     Lottery tickets may not be sold to or bought by minors; in Connecticut a minor is anyone under 18.

     Connecticut law defines a minor as a person under 18 (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-1d).

     Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-813

9. Age 21

   • Can drive a commercial truck across state lines

     Federal rules require drivers of commercial vehicles in interstate commerce to be at least 21.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(1)

   • Can buy tobacco or vapes

     Federal law bars any retailer from selling cigarettes, vapes or other tobacco products to anyone under 21, in every state.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 21 U.S.C. § 387f(d)(5)

   • Can buy alcohol

     Federal highway funding law withholds funds from any state that lets anyone under 21 buy alcohol or possess it in public, so every state sets 21.

     Federal rules let states exempt possession (not purchase) for a religious purpose, with a parent, spouse or legal guardian 21 or older, for medical use, in private clubs, or in lawful employment (23 C.F.R. 1208.3).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 23 U.S.C. § 158(a)

   • Under-21 credit card limits end (no cosigner or independent income needed)

     Under 21, a card issuer may open a credit card only with a cosigner or proof that you can repay on your own.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 15 U.S.C. § 1637(c)(8)

10. Age 25

    • Can serve in the U.S. House

      The Constitution sets 25 as the minimum age for the U.S. House of Representatives.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 2, cl. 2

11. Age 30

    • Can serve as governor

      Connecticut's constitution requires the governor to be at least 30 years old.

      Connecticut law · Conn. Const. art. IV, § 5

    • Can serve in the U.S. Senate

      The Constitution sets 30 as the minimum age for the U.S. Senate.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 3

12. Age 35

    • Can serve as President

      The Constitution sets 35 as the minimum age for President.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. II, § 1, cl. 5

13. Age 62

    • Can start Social Security retirement benefits (reduced)

      Social Security retirement benefits can start at 62, permanently reduced.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Retirement Benefits: Benefit reduction for early retirement

14. Age 65

    • Eligible for Medicare by age

      Medicare hospital insurance by age begins at 65 for people entitled, or who would be entitled, to Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 42 U.S.C. § 426(a)

15. Age 67

    • Full Social Security retirement age (born 1960 or later)

      Full Social Security retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth

16. Age 73

    • Retirement-account minimum withdrawals begin

      Required minimum distributions from traditional retirement accounts begin at 73 for people who turn 72 after 2022.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(9)(C)(v)

17. Age 75

    • Can ask to be excused from jury service because of age

      From age 75, a person can ask to be excused from jury service because of age.

      Connecticut treats it as a disqualification the person chooses.

      Connecticut law · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-217(a)(8), (c)(2)

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